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Acer FA100 vs Samsung 990 EVO Plus: Comparison
What is the difference between Acer FA100 and Samsung 990 EVO Plus?
Sequential read is where these two genuinely part company, Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Samsung 990 EVO Plus 7250 MB/s, a 54% lead for Samsung 990 EVO Plus. The benchmark result agrees. Speed Score puts Samsung 990 EVO Plus 17% ahead, 7.7 against 6.4. Sequential write runs the same way, 2700 MB/s on the Acer FA100 versus 6300 MB/s on the Samsung 990 EVO Plus, another win for Samsung 990 EVO Plus. They differ on dram cache too, DRAM-less on the Acer FA100 versus DRAM-less with HMB on the Samsung 990 EVO Plus.
Who each one is for
Buy the Acer FA100 for everyday laptops and desktops with a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot. It also earns its place with budget upgrades needing 2000 GB of NVMe storage in a standard M.2 2280 slot. It is the wrong buy for anyone wanting PCIe 4.0 speeds, since this drive tops out at 3300 MB/s reads. Take the Samsung 990 EVO Plus for buyers upgrading a system where the exact motherboard generation or future upgrade path is uncertain. The hybrid lane configuration adapts sensibly either way. It is equally the pick for anyone who wants a taste of PCIe 5.0 technology without paying for or needing a dedicated flagship 4-lane Gen 5 drive. A genuinely balanced middle-ground option. It is not the one for buyers who specifically want to maximize a confirmed PCIe 5.0 x4 motherboard slot. The Samsung 9100 PRO, covered elsewhere on this site, delivers considerably higher peak performance in that specific scenario.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Acer FA100 and Samsung 990 EVO Plus differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus Hybrid PCIe 5.0 x2 / PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe on the Samsung 990 EVO Plus.
Is the NAND Type the same on the Acer FA100 and Samsung 990 EVO Plus?
It is. Both are listed at TLC, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Acer FA100
- 6.4/10-17%
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- 7.7/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Acer FA100
- Acer
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- Samsung
Model Number
- Acer FA100
- Acer FA100 (Micron B27B)
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- 990 EVO Plus
Series
- Acer FA100
- FA100
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
Drive Type
- Acer FA100
- Internal
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- Internal
Bus Interface
- Acer FA100
- PCIe 3.0 x4
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- Hybrid PCIe 5.0 x2 / PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Form Factor
- Acer FA100
- M.2 2280
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- M.2 2280
Sequential Read
- Acer FA100
- 3300 MB/s-54%
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- 7250 MB/s
Sequential Write
- Acer FA100
- 2700 MB/s-57%
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- 6300 MB/s
DRAM Cache
- Acer FA100
- DRAM-less (HMB)
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- DRAM-less with HMB
NAND Type
- Acer FA100
- TLC
- Samsung 990 EVO Plus
- TLC
Which one should you pick?
Choose Acer FA100 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Samsung 990 EVO Plus if you want the higher speed score (7.7 vs 6.4), the higher sequential read (7250 MB/s vs 3300 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (6300 MB/s vs 2700 MB/s).